I missed the Rite of Election for Catechumens

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I’d really like to see an official reference to it being optional to. What if a candidate doesn’t come on Easter Vigil…is that optional too? For months all I heard was how important this meeting with the Bishop was.
 
JeffinBuffallo said:
I’d really like to see an official reference to it being optional to. What if a candidate doesn’t come on Easter Vigil…is that optional too? For months all I heard was how important this meeting with the Bishop was.
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Let’s say Easter Saturday morning I wake up with a fever of 102, vomiting and chills - I have he flu. My pastor will contact the Bishop who will arrange for me to be confirmed at a later time, likely by granting permission for my Pastor to confirm me.

The Church does not demand the impossible.
 
Jeff,

This :
felsguy said:
Jeff

I am currently a member of my parish RCIA team as I have been for a number of years including a couple as the interim director. I would like to echo the advice that was well-stated in several posts above, namely

“It is truly a moving and profound ceremony” …BUT…

“the rite of initiation/welcoming as well as the rite of sending/election (depending on what your parish calls it) are not mandatory. They are strongly encouraged but are not requirements to getting baptized/confirmed at the Easter Vigil”

May I suggest that you discuss this with your RCIA director before making a final decision to postpone your receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation this Easter. The two of you may indeed conclude that it best that you wait until next year but simply having missed the Rite generally would not make it improper to proceed this year.
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Figs that is not citing an official document. I’d like to see what it says in an official guide to RCIA.
 
JeffinBuffallo said:
Figs that is not citing an official document. I’d like to see what it says in an official guide to RCIA.
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You’re right, it’s not, but I really think you’re going to find it difficult to come up with any “official document” of the matter.
That is why I reposted what felsguy said. Talk with your RCIA instructor OR the Priest, for that matter. Tell them what happened and see if they feel if it is necessary for you to start again.
I don’t really think it will be but I’m just an internet person. Your RCIA instructor would give you the best advice.

God Bless
 
figs said:
You’re right, it’s not, but I really think you’re going to find it difficult to come up with any “official document” of the matter.
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The only things I see seem to indicate that the Rite of Election is required. I was once told – and this is obviously unofficial – that if a catechumen misses the Rite of Election they have to wait until the following year to go through the rite and receive the sacraments at the next Easter Vigil.

Looking at the ritual text, there is an “optional” note on the Rite of Election for children of catechetical age.

In the section dealing with the sacraments outside of the usual times there is this:
  1. The entire rite of Christian initiation is normally arranged so that the sacraments will be celebrated during the Easter Vigil. Because of unusual circumstances and pastoral needs, however, the rite of election and the rites belonging to the period of purification and enlightenment may be held outside Lent and the sacraments of initiation may be celebrated at a time other than the Easter Vigil or Easter Sunday. [snip]
  2. The rite of election is to be celebrated about six weeks before the sacraments of initiation, so that there is sufficient time for the scrutinies and the presentations. Care should be taken not to schedule the celebration of the rite of election on a solemnity of the liturgical year.
It appears that even if there is a reason to celebrate the sacraments at a time other than the Easter Vigil, there is still a celebration of the Rite of Election.

If there is anything even semi-official (on a diocesan web site, for example) that says the Rite of Election can be skipped, I would be interested in seeing it.
 
It seems to me we are wrestling with several different questions here.
  1. Is participation in the Rite of Election mandatory for a baptized Catholic preparing for Confirmation at the Easter vigil (which I gather is Jeff’s situation from his original post)?
From the nature of the Rite itself, it seems clear to me that it is not.
  1. Is not having participated in the Rite of Election reason for a baptized Catholic to delay receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation for a whole year?
In my humble opinion, in itself it is not.
  1. Is participation in the Rite of Election required (mandatory) for an unbaptized person to receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil (which seems to be Patrick’s situation)?
Here I think we could go round and round until the Easter Vigil itself and not settle it. I find lots of uses of the word “mandatory” and “optional” in the Rite (USA version) itself in reference to ceremonies, bishops, timing, locations, etc. but none directly answering this question. My own local experiences cause me to believe it is not required, but that proves nothing.

I suggest that regardless of what the Rite says or intends, whether or not a catechumen is permitted to go forward will ultimately be determined locally, that is by the individual RCIA director and/or pastor or perhaps diocesan policy.
  1. Is not having participated in the Rite of Election by an unbaptized person reason to postpone receiving the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil if it would nonetheless be permitted?
Again, in my humble opinion, in itself it is not.
 
JeffinBuffallo said:
I missed the the Rite of Election for Catechumens and the Call to Continuing Conversion for Candidates today. I had never been to the cathedral and got lost on my way there 😦 I feel like an idiot for not making a practice drive to find out exactly where it was 😦 Now I am wondering if I will still be able to be confirmed this year or if I now have to wait another year. At my parish all the candidates signed a book but today we were supposed to sign another and meet the Bishop. I am so very upset that I missed this :(😦
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I’m sure you can get it worked out. Don’t fret.

You did miss an amazing rite, though. I was almost moved to tears. They really pull out the big guns for these things!
 
felsguy said:
  1. Is participation in the Rite of Election mandatory for a baptized Catholic preparing for Confirmation at the Easter vigil (which I gather is Jeff’s situation from his original post)?
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Someone who is baptized – Catholic or Protestant – does NOT go through the Rite of Election. That rite is only for the unbaptized.
  1. Is not having participated in the Rite of Election reason for a baptized Catholic to delay receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation for a whole year?
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Since the baptized don’t participate in the Rite of Election…no.
  1. Is participation in the Rite of Election required (mandatory) for an unbaptized person to receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil (which seems to be Patrick’s situation)?
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This is the one I’d really like to see an answer to, and not just in terms of what one parish or another has done.

For example, the rite is very clear that the catechumenate is to last at least a year. But many parishes ignore that requirement and have a six-month (or shorter) catechumenate.

So it would not surprise me if a parish decided to allow someone to miss the Rite of Election and still be baptized at the Easter Vigil. But I’d like the official version and will keep pursuing it, at least for my own information.
 
JeffinBuffallo said:
Figs that is not citing an official document. I’d like to see what it says in an official guide to RCIA.
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There is no official guide to RCIA. It more of a fluid program to suit the needs of the communities and it’s people. 🙂

You wont find a list of distinct and strict guidelines. They simply dont exist.
 
Marie5890 said:
There is no official guide to RCIA. It more of a fluid program to suit the needs of the communities and it’s people. 🙂

You wont find a list of distinct and strict guidelines. They simply dont exist.
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W…e…l…l…l…

there is the publication Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, which includes the Decree of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Statutes for the Catechumenate, Approved by the National Catholic Conference of Catholic Bishops,

Just saying 😉
 
Suscipe

You correctly point out that I was imprecise in my terminology. What I had in mind was the combined Rite of Election and of the Call to Continuing Conversion. Let me try again
  1. Is participation in the Rite of Election **and of the Call to Continuing Conversion **mandatory for a baptized Catholic preparing for Confirmation at the Easter vigil (which I gather is Jeff’s situation from his original post)?
  2. If it is not mandatory, is not having participated in the Rite of Election and of the Call to Continuing Conversion reason for a baptized Catholic to delay receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation for a whole year?
IMHO, the answer to both remains “No.” Your thoughts?

I realize that this remains in the realm of opinion
 
felsguy said:
Suscipe

You correctly point out that I was imprecise in my terminology. What I had in mind was the combined Rite of Election and of the Call to Continuing Conversion. Let me try again
  1. Is participation in the Rite of Election **and of the Call to Continuing Conversion **mandatory for a baptized Catholic preparing for Confirmation at the Easter vigil (which I gather is Jeff’s situation from his original post)?
  2. If it is not mandatory, is not having participated in the Rite of Election and of the Call to Continuing Conversion reason for a baptized Catholic to delay receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation for a whole year?
IMHO, the answer to both remains “No.” Your thoughts?

I realize that this remains in the realm of opinion
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I agree with you. As far as I can tell, the Call to Continuing Conversion is an optional rite. And since it’s optional, I wouldn’t delay the reception of the sacraments for someone who missed it.
 
I had surgery on Friday the day before our Rite of Election. Since I didn’t know if I was going to be able to attend, I consulted with my RCIA director and priest ahead of time. They both assured me that it would be alright if I had to miss it, and that I would still be able to go forward this Easter. I forced myself out of bed to attend, and I’m so glad I did! But I was told it wasn’t mandatory.
 
felsguy said:
W…e…l…l…l…

there is the publication Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, which includes the Decree of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Statutes for the Catechumenate, Approved by the National Catholic Conference of Catholic Bishops,

Just saying 😉
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AHHH!!!.. Well thank you for the correction… 🙂 I didnt know that

So can you answer his question? What do they say on his concerns? 🙂
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
I agree with you. As far as I can tell, the Call to Continuing Conversion is an optional rite. And since it’s optional, I wouldn’t delay the reception of the sacraments for someone who missed it.
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I think it would depend on the reason - if the reason they missed the Rite made me think they weren’t taking the process seriously, then I’d consider delaying reception into the Church.

But if it was unintentional or due to circumstances beyond human control, then I’d say, go ahead, with the pastor’s permission.
 
Marie5890 said:
AHHH!!!.. Well thank you for the correction… 🙂 I didnt know that

So can you answer his question? What do they say on his concerns? 🙂
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The Rite mandates that Catechumens go to the Rite of Election in order to enter the Period of Purification, which typically coincides with Lent.

If they don’t receive the Rite of Election, then they remain in the Catechumenate. For pastoral reasons, a Catechumen can be received into the Church without ever becoming Elect - but it seems that the writers of the document are not envisioning anything short of deathly illness - it would be up to the pastor to discern whether the person had a serious enough reason for missing the Rite of Election. I don’t know of any alternatives to the Rite of Election, and I’m pretty sure the Bishop only does it once a year.

Candidates remain Candidates throughout the process, from the Rite of Welcome through to final Initiation - the Calling to Full Communion doesn’t actually change their status, although it does make them known to the Bishop, and affirms that their journey so far has been fruitful.
 
jmcrae said:
The Rite mandates that Catechumens go to the Rite of Election in order to enter the Period of Purification, which typically coincides with Lent.

If they don’t receive the Rite of Election, then they remain in the Catechumenate. For pastoral reasons, a Catechumen can be received into the Church without ever becoming Elect - but it seems that the writers of the document are not envisioning anything short of deathly illness - it would be up to the pastor to discern whether the person had a serious enough reason for missing the Rite of Election. I don’t know of any alternatives to the Rite of Election, and I’m pretty sure the Bishop only does it once a year.

Candidates remain Candidates throughout the process, from the Rite of Welcome through to final Initiation - the Calling to Full Communion doesn’t actually change their status, although it does make them known to the Bishop, and affirms that their journey so far has been fruitful.
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So, according to the mandates of the Rite, since Jeff is a candidate and not a catechumen, it really shouldnt be a problem.

If he had been a catechumen, then there might be a more legit concern if there was a concern.

At least that is what you wrote seems to be saying.
 
Our Diocese holds the Rite at least 3Xs each year. If you miss one, you can attend another.
 
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